Nuvigil

Nuvigil is a CNS stimulant drug, used to treat extreme sleepiness caused by narcolepsy; difficult or irregular breathing during sleep caused by other sleeping disorders (i.e. obstructive sleep apnea) and sleepiness related to sleep pattern disturbance caused by shifting work schedule. This medication helps to keep you awake.

Instructions:

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times. Do not give this to individuals younger than 17 years old.

• Take Nuvigil orally/ by mouth before or after meals, once a day every morning per doctor’s prescription.
• To treat sleepiness from shifting work schedule, take this medication an hour before the shift in your work starts.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Avoid alcohol intake and activities that require mental alertness (i.e. driving, operating machinery) because this medication can cause dizziness.
• Ask your doctor about the recommended back up birth control method for you as this medication can make hormonal birth control pills, ring or patch less efficient.
• Continue taking this medication on a regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor to prevent relapse of the infection.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that your dose is not too close to your sleeping hour. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose.

Avoid taking a double dose to cover up your missed dose. Record your missed dose and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions:

Nuvigil may interact with:

• Alpha blockers (i.e. prazosin, doxazosin)
• Beta blocker antihypertensive drugs (i.e. metoprolol, atenolol)
• Other antihypertensive drugs (i.e. clonidine, methyldopa)
• Blood thinners (i.e. warfarin)
• MAO inhibitor drugs (i.e. isocarboxazid, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline)
• Street drugs (i.e. methamphetamine, MDMA or ecstasy)
• Azole antifungal drugs (i.e. ketoconazole)
• Erythromycin
• Rifabutin
• Anticonvulsant/ anti- seizure drugs (i.e. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin)
• Clomipramine
• Cyclosporine
• Diazepam
• Ethinyl estradiol
• Omeprazole
• Hormonal birth control pills, ring or patch
• A cough- and- cold products and
• Products that contain caffeine (i.e. coffee, soft drinks).

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Nuvigil. Likewise, Nuvigil may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Nuvigil.

Never alter the doses of other medications while on Nuvigil neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects:

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings:

Before taking Nuvigil, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to armodafinil (Nuvigil)
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Heart disease (i.e. mitral valve disorder, enlarged heart)
  • Chest pain or irregular heartbeat after taking amphetamines or other stimulant drugs
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disorder
  • Mental or mood disorder (i.e. depression, psychosis)
  • Drug or alcohol dependence/ abuse

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (It is not known if Nuvigil can harm the unborn child or if it can pass through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)